Well, it isn’t just Beyonce using the Master Cleanse (Lemonade Diet, Maple Syrup Diet) to lose weight quickly. R & B superstar, Ashanti, has openly admitted to using the Master Cleanse to drop eight pounds this summer. In an effort to shape up and drop some extra weight before making the publicity rounds for the movie Resident Evil: Extinction, in which she appears, and her new album Declaration, Ashanti gave herself a week on the Master Cleanse. Rather than going to major extremes and following the fast for an extended period, Ashanti followed it for only seven days and tweaked … Continue reading →

I wrote awhile ago about how researchers did a study showing that when it comes to obesity, birds of a feather tend to flock together. Those whose friends are overweight are at an increased likelihood for obesity. Well apparently, at least in some cases, obesity is contagious–literally. Researchers at Louisiana State University have published yet another study that links a particular virus to obesity. In this study, the virus was shown to take adult stem cells and turn them into fat cells. While we can’t all blame our extra pounds on a virus, the possibility that some people who are … Continue reading →

“Your thighs are so big, the ground rumbles when you walk.” “If you eat one more Dorito, you’ll have to buy two airplane seats.” Are you motivated now to stick to a diet plan? Or are you wondering if I’m writing without having had my morning coffee? Yes, I’ve had my morning coffee and thankfully, that’s not exactly how the new diet robot out of MIT Media Labs works. But it does capitalize on one key element of human psychology. . .that if you know something is wrong, you’re much less likely to do it while being watched. Shame is … Continue reading →

Really, honestly, and truly I read this today. I had always heard that going on a diet, to lose weight, and then to regain it was just a bad proposition. I’ve heard that it makes losing weight for the long haul much harder to do and I’ve heard that it isn’t that healthy for you either, increasing your risk of heart disease, and cancer. But apparently, losing weight and then regaining has no ill health effects on your heart or your waistline in and of itself. In a research study, following several men and women, statistics showed that yo-yo dieting, … Continue reading →

Fad diets are not my thing. I lack will power, utterly and completely. I cannot deprive myself of the things I love to eat, and what’s worse is that I love to bake. . .and what fun is baking if you don’t get to try anything? However, I can always convince myself to eat more food. As it turns out, a new study out of Penn State is saying to do the same thing if you want to lose weight. No, you can’t eat burgers, and fries galore and that is fine by me. But studies are showing that one … Continue reading →

A study released yesterday suggests that there may be an injection that over weight patients can take to curb their appetite and reduce their weight. The hormone primitive is currently being used to treat diabetics. However, researchers began a six week trial giving the injections to over weight patients. Patients who were injected with the hormone were found to eat less but report feeling full despite having eaten less. The study also included a ‘junk food phase’ and even then, the hormone seemed to do the trick. People who had the treatment ate substantially less junk food. The study required … Continue reading →

The following ran across my desk today: “Apple Burgers are the Key to Weight Loss.” You know that I have to follow up with a title like that. I thought I was going to have to start a new series in weight loss: “Hokey Things You Can Buy for Weight Loss: Burger Flavored Apples.” But I was wrong. Apparently researchers are looking for ways to trick your mind into thinking you are eating fat or salt. Why on earth would they do that, you ask? Well, they already do it for sugar. We crave certain things (like sugar) and science … Continue reading →